A 96-year-old woman and a ten-year-old boy were among the award winners at YMCA Lincolnshire’s fourth annual celebratory event.

On Monday 28^th September members of the board, staff and volunteers from YMCA Lincolnshire were joined by over 100 guests at The Showroom Conference and Activity Centre on Tritton Road in Lincoln.

The event followed the charity’s AGM and provided an opportunity for staff to share project successes and highlight the different areas of support offered by YMCA Lincolnshire over the last 12 months.

Chairman Ian Sackree welcomed guests and spoke about the charity’s aspirations for the future, which will include investing in additional day services, a new night shelter and community housing.

Former Activity Centre Supervisor Fiona Moon and Debbie Barnes, Director of Children’s Services at Lincolnshire County Council, presented Duke of Edinburgh certificates to three young people who recently achieved their bronze award.

Malcolm Barham, Chief Executive of Lincolnshire YMCA, introduced the awards ceremony and invited members of the board, including President Philip Hutchings, to present the nominees and winners with their certificates and trophies.

Recognised for her unfailing dedication and long service to both Lincolnshire YMCA and the Nomad Trust, Margaret Philips, affectionately known as ‘Mrs P’ was presented with the award for Volunteer of the Year by Dan Rogers.

Dan explained: “Mrs P is amazing! She set up the cathedral coffee mornings with friends more than 39 years ago and voted for the Nomad Trust to receive the profits.

“She has kept us in her heart all of these years and actively keeps donations coming in. On top of this she still goes to the Nomad Trust shop and volunteers!”

The youngest award winner was ten-year-old Murray Chapman, whose compassion for homeless people saw him secure the Influencing the Community Award.

Nominated by staff and his peers, Murray has demonstrated empathy beyond his years and in December 2014 he filled shoe boxes with Christmas goodies for people using the night shelter.

Other award winners included: Sean Giles (YMCA Young Worker of the Year), Julie Audis (YMCA Worker of the Year), Shannon Hopkins (Young Achiever of the Year), Shooting Star (Contribution to the Community Award) and Janet Kirk (Spirit of YMCA Award).

Malcolm Barham, Chief Executive of Lincolnshire YMCA, said: “The nominees and winners of these awards should be very proud of themselves. Their achievements and the impact their hard work and dedication has on other members of staff and the people who use our services is tremendous.

“It’s a privilege to work among people who want to make a difference to the lives of others.”

A series of short films was shown during the evening to highlight the range of services YMCA Lincolnshire offers. This includes training, education, housing, health and fitness and childcare.

Photographs taken at a school in Romania, which staff and volunteers from YMCA Lincolnshire are helping to renovate, were also on display.

Retiring members of the board Alan Daniels, Charles Holt and Philip Hutchings were thanked for their dedication and presented with a gift on behalf of YMCA Lincolnshire by Lincoln’s MP Karl McCartney.

Malcolm concluded: “Tonight was a unique opportunity for us to celebrate and reward the dedicated trustees, volunteers and staff who deliver our excellent projects and activities.

“I’m proud of all we have to achieved this year and look forward to seeing our plans for the future come to fruition, including a return trip to Romania in 2016 to complete the improvements at the school in Craidorolț.”

For more information about YMCA Lincolnshire and its services visit the website: www.lincsymca.co.uk

Ends

Notes to Editors:

• Lincoln YMCA was founded in 1869 and became YMCA Lincolnshire in 2005 when it merged with the Stamford branch.
• YMCA Lincolnshire is based on St Rumbold’s Street in Lincoln.
• YMCA Lincolnshire merged with The Nomad Trust in 2013 to help people secure and sustain tenancies in the city as well as providing ongoing support once housed.
• The Nomad Trust is a Christian-based registered charity which provides welfare services in the city of Lincoln for those who are homeless or otherwise in need.
• YMCA Lincolnshire is one of the biggest providers of supported accommodation in Lincoln, and the only provider of night shelter in the county.
• In 2014 YMCA Lincolnshire provided 374 people with accommodation and is currently housing 109 residents aged from 18 to 66.
• YMCA Lincolnshire provides alternative education provision for vulnerable children, social housing, work-related training and international charity work around Europe.
• For more information about YMCA Lincolnshire, please visit http://www.lincsymca.co.uk, the YMCA Lincolnshire Facebook page or follow @LincsYMCA on Twitter.

For more information about this news release please contact:
Kerri Saxby
Shooting Star
01522 528540
kerri@weareshootingstar.co.uk
www.weareshootingstar.co.uk